Until 1870[1] Borough
Road was just a short stretch of road between the parish church
and what is today the former vicarage, extending as far
as the animal Pound just past the bottom of the churchyard.
The road then narrowed to a track way down to the River Wey and
the wooden Boarden Bridge was the only means of crossing the river
on the western side of Godalming. According to A. H. Tod, when foot
passengers for Charterhouse School got off the train at Godalming "New" station they
would take this path and cross Boarden Bridge, although it
was often flooded in winter[2].
If they hired a cab they were taken through the town and across
the town bridge before turning past Godalming's Old Station (behind
Jewson's today).

A brick bridge was then constructed, parallel
with but somewhat higher than the Boarden Bridge and the track
way was widened to form a roadway. It followed the same course
as the track, passing underneath the plate girder railway
bridge to the Deanery Road / Charterhouse Road / Chalk Road crossroad.
Early maps show the bridge and track way provided access to
the Westbrook Leather Mills[3].

Both postcards on this page date from the Edwardian era. The
top card shows two young boys leaning on the railings, looking
at the photographer. They are probably posing. The group in
the second view of the bridge have undoubtedly been asked to
stand still as the two girls on the left are standing rigidly
to attention! But they make the image more attractive, something
that would have helped to sell more of the cards. There
are two women standing on the bridge itself and looking over
the parapet, one of whom is shielding her eyes. The card provides
a good view of the brick bridge, with the church tower and
spire behind it. Just past the bridge is close boarded fencing
which some time ago was replaced with rustic
fencing. The cheery overprinted greeting reads "Hearty
Greetings and All Good Wishes".

Having been closed for 2 years whilst it was
restored, Boarden Bridge has recently re-opened (May 2018).